Thursday, August 20, 2015

Adversity Friendship Victory

Pro cyclist, Taylor
Phinney, burst from the pack in this week’s first stage of the U.S. Pro
challenge in Steamboat Springs, and claimed an amazing victory! It’s a great
story, but it was not supposed to happen. In fact, after a horrific crash 15
months ago at the U.S. Cycling Championships in Chattanooga, TN, doctors
thought he might lose a leg or at the least never ride a bike again! Obviously
they had not experienced the fortitude and drive of a Taylor Phinney! This is
also a story of a friendship manifesting itself in a time of crisis!

A motorcycle race
official, underestimating racers going 50 miles per hour plus on a downhill
section, caused Taylor’s terrible crash. In 2014 a training friend from
Boulder Colorado, Lucas Euser, was behind Taylor when he crashed. Seeing the
severity of the injury, Lucas got off his bike to help. Amazingly, Lucas
was on a competing team and subsequently quit the race to be with his
friend, even after Taylor told him to get back in the race! This is real
friendship!

Taylor’s left leg was in
terrible shape with multiple compound fractures. Many surgeries and months of
physical therapy did not deter Taylor from getting on his bike. Fifteen months
later Taylor had his victory, something he only dreamed about during his rehab.

Taylor has unique
competitor’s DNA as the son of Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter Phinney.
Davis, now battling Parkinson’s Disease, was the second American to win a stage
in the Tour de France. Connie won cycling gold in the ’84 Olympics.

I love stories of fortitude
and the road to success as people battle adversity. We wish Taylor and his
family all the best.